Board passes tuition increase

Resident undergraduates at Chadron State, Peru State and Wayne State will pay $95 per credit hour in 2004-2005 instead of the current rate of $87.

The higher rate was passed to help offset rising costs of insurance, utilities, inflation and salaries. It will also provide funding for a system-wide marketing effort.

The board also approved increases to room and board. The double room rate at Chadron State increased $36 per semester to $925 (4.05 percent) while the 15-meal plan raised $23 to $961.

Chadron State President Dr. Tom Krepel said he realizes the increases will be a burden to the students, but that it’s a national trend and necessary because of the rising costs of operation and lack of additional state support. He noted that despite the increase, tuition at the three state colleges will remain highly competitive with other four-year institutions in the region and beyond.